Obuasi, May 11, GNA-The Obuasi Municipal Assembly (OMA) last year spent 1.2 billion cedis of HIPC fund to finance five projects in the area, Mr Joe Boampong, the acting Municipal Chief Executive, said at a meeting of the assembly at Obuasi.

The projects include a maternity block at Akrofuom, blocks of classrooms at Diawuoso and Fomena, an incinerator at Kwabenakwakrom and a 28-seater vault chamber toilet at Jimiso-Kakraba. Mr Boampong said under the same fund, blocks of classrooms were being built at Kunka, Kwabenakwakrom, Pomposo and Adokwai.

He said the assembly so far had 5.4 billion cedis instead of 7.6 billion cedis budgeted for under the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for last year.

Mr Boampong said out of the amount received, 1.08 billion cedis were spent on micro/district economic activities, I billion cedis on production and gainful employment, 1.59 billion cedis on human resource development and basic services, 42.46 million cedis went into special programme for vulnerable people, 1.013 billion on enhancing good governance and 895.8 million cedis was the balance left. Mr Boampong said under mineral royalties, a total amount of 3.705 billion cedis was received last year out of which 110 million cedis was spent on the assembly's scholarship scheme for brilliant but needy students in the Adansi area and 180 million cedis was donated to the former Adansi East district.

The assembly also used part of the mineral royalties to undertake projects at Sansu, Mensonso, Annorkrom, Mpirekyire, Adomanu, Akrofuom, Fomena and Obuasi.

Mr Boampong said a number of projects including the building of a slaughterhouse at Kwabenakwakrom, a 24-seater water closet toilet at Aboagyekrom and the installation of security lights and gates at the Obuasi Horsey park, rehabilitation of 2.3 kilometres of roads in the central business area of Obuasi had been completed and under the Urban Five Project. Assemblyman calls for support for watch committees

Obuasi, May 11, GNA - An assemblyman has appealed to business people, especially those operating big stores in Obuasi, to support the operations of watch committees to help check armed robberies. Mr John Sackey, the assemblyman for New Nsuta-JJ electoral area in the Obuasi municipality, told the GNA in an interview that armed robberies were on the increase and this needed communities to assist the police by way of setting up watch committee.

''But effective operations of these committees rest on the support to be derived from these businessmen and women who are the major targets of the armed robbers.''

Mr Sackey, who had formed one of the committees at his electoral area, said, "I want your support and assistance to help promote the effective operation of the watch committee since their services are sacrificial".

The assemblyman said some of his committee members were becoming discouraged because of the way some businessmen and women were treating them. 11 May 05